DAILY- HOMILY

DAILY-HOMILY is a Catholic-based Scripture and Homily Reflections. It is a great source for scripture readings, homilies and reflections for Weekdays, Sundays and Holydays of Obligation. Subscribe to this list and you will receive a free, informed, down to earth and illustrated homilies focusing on the readings on Weekday & Sunday Masses, Liturgical Services or personal reflection. And best of all it's a FREE service. To subscribe or unsubscribe send email to: dailyhomily@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

WEDNESDAY 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

NOVEMBER 7, 2007WEDNESDAY 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I

ROMANS 13:8-10Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love oneanother; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Thecommandments, You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; youshall not steal; you shall not covet, and whatever other commandmentthere may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, You shall loveyour neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence,love is the fulfillment of the law.

LUKE 14:25-33Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressedthem, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, hecannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and comeafter me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct atower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if thereis enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundationand finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers shouldlaugh at him and say, `This one began to build but did not have theresources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would notfirst sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he cansuccessfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twentythousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he willsend a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyoneof you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be mydisciple."

REFLECTIONIt costs a lot to follow Jesus. Giving Jesus the first place in ourlives before our family, flesh and blood, friends, career, dreams andplans is something that is demanded and expected of a disciple ofJesus. Jesus tells us that we must take up our cross and follow afterhim.

The image of building the tower is a good example of whatdiscipleship involves. We just don't say that we would like to builda tower or simply begin to build. We have to plan, get materials,devote hours and hours of work, and, of course, we have to have themoney to pay for the project. We have to be willing to pay the priceof what the building will demand of our time, talents and treasure.

To be Jesus' disciple also demands knowing what it is will cost to beone and being willing to pay the price. The price is the dying towhat is not of Jesus' kingdom in our hearts and being willing tofollow in Jesus' footsteps, not just occasionally, but day in and dayout. To follow Jesus demands a daily walk with him. It means beingwilling to allow Jesus to enter into all the areas of our life,especially the most personal. Our vocation, family, career, pursuits,hobbies, talents, everything is a part of the gift that we make toJesus. There are no areas in which we prevent him from entering.

Christian discipleship is much more that the saying of prayers orfollowing of religious practices. It demands that our hearts, ourlives, our very souls are open to Jesus. It means that there isnothing that is solely belongs to us. Everything belongs to God.

Words are easy and cheap. Being a disciple of Jesus demands so muchmore. It demands action. It demands a whole life lived for Jesus,holding nothing back. It is fine to say that we want to be Jesus'disciple. It is quite another thing to live and act that way in allthe areas of our lives.

We need to invite the Lord's spirit into our hearts so that we canfollow through and make a reality of that which we say we are, adisciple of Jesus Christ. As we rely more and more on the Spirit, itbecomes easier to walk hand in hand with Jesus down the difficultroad of life than to just talk about walking with Jesus.

SUPPORT THE DAILY-HOMILY MINISTRY:Daily-Homily is solely supported by its subscribers. Any donation that you would like to make to help offset the cost of this ministry would be greatly appreciated.To donate to this ministry, go to: http://dhdonation.dailyfoodforthought.org/